Compare towns
Arundel vs Saco vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arundel has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Arundel | Saco | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,766 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4 9% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Saco and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,597±$17k 36% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$357,100±$29kLowest 20% above ME |
| Arundel and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,150±$249Lowest about the ME average |
| Arundel and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 24% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,417Lowest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.